Hand operated weeding and cultivating tool



May 29, 1934. E. o. BUEHLER HAND OPERATED WEEDING AND CULTIVATING TOOLFiled Sept. 14, 1933 INVENTOR.

,f5/M f/f/{Jsa BY dw/m iff W l ATTORNEY.

Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES HAND OPERATED WEEDING ANDCULTIVATING TOOL Emil O. Buehler, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 14, 1933, Serial No. 689,447

7 Claims.

This invention relates to agricultural implements and particularly tohand operated garden tools.

The principal Yobject of the invention is the provision of acombination, all-purpose garden tool, which is efficient in operation,readily adjustable, simple in design and construction, and economical tomanufacture.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool with whichthe operations of weeding and cultivating may be performedsimultaneously or independently, as preferred.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool which is veryeffective in destroying weeds by cutting them near the roots withoutparticularly disturbing the upper surface of the ground.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool which may beeffectively utilized to cut and destroy weeds on both the forward andbackward movement of the tool.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device forcutting'and destroying weeds in which cast-off hack saw vblades orcorset stays may be effectively utilized as the cutting medi- Anotherobject of the invention is the provision of a device with which verticaland horizontal cultivation may be performed in one operation.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an agricultural toolhaving readily attachable and demountable accessories such as disccultivator, roller, rake and spoon.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemore readily understood as the description proceeds, reference being hadfrom time to time to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the disc cultivator unitattached.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the roller unit affixed.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the rake element attached.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan View showing the spoon cultivator unitattached.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, numeral 15 designatesthe frame 4proper,

which is constructed of two individual members 16, preferably made ofcold rolled steel, having vertically disposed lower portions andinwardly and upwardly disposed Shanks terminating through re-bends inreduced heads 17 adapted to be inserted into the end of a wooden handle18 of any desired length. A reinforcing ferrule 19, adapted to fit aboutthe end of the handle 18, is provided with a transverse opening 20 whichpermits the insertion of a tapered pin 21 adapted to pass between thereduced heads 17 of said frame, forcing them apart and preventing theirremoval from the end of the handle 18.

A cross member 22, preferably made of structural angle iron, is securelywelded at each end to the frame members 16, as at 23. The horizontal leg24 of said angle iron cross member 22 has two or more convenientlylocated tapped holes 25 adapted to receive mounting screws 26 to permitthe attachment thereto of the various accessories hereafter described.

Positioned near the center of the horizontal leg 24 of the cross member22 is another threaded hole 26 adapted to receive a slotted set-screw27, which in turn is adapted to exert pressure on the spring member 28,which is interposed between the frame members 16 and curves upwardly tothe underside of the horizontal leg 24' of the cross member 22. A wingnut 29 helps secure to the frame 15 the accessories hereinafterlreferred to, and acts as a lock nut for the set-screw 27.

Both ends of the spring member 28 are hollowmilled to form cylindricalstuds 30, which are adapted to engage holes 31 formed near the lowerends of frame members 16. Another set of similar holes 32 are providedin the frame members 16 some distance above the holes 31 and areintended to accommodate a shorter but stiffer spring member as indicatedby the numeral 33, if it is desired to permit the tool to be insertedinto the ground to a greater depth.

At the extreme lower ends of the frame members 16 I hollow-mill thecylindrical studs 34 and the shoulders 35, said studs being adapted toengage holes formed near the ends of the cutting member 36, and saidshoulders being adapted to serve as guards for the studs. The cuttingmember 36 should preferably be a thin narrow steel blade sharpened onboth edges although I have had excellent results with the use ofcast-off hack saw blades. It will be noted that the leading and trailingedges of the lower portions of frame members 16 are beveled, asindicated by 36, to produce a cutting edge.

The pressure produced on the spring member 28 by the set-screw 27,exerts itself toward the lower ends of the frame members 16 tending toforce them outwardly, thereby producing sufficient tension on thecutting member 36 to keep it securely in place.

If it is desired to use any one of the accessories illustrated in Figs.3, 5, 7, and 9, it is only necessary to remove the screws 26 and thewing nut 29, position the desired accessory on top of the horizontal leg24 of the cross member 22 and replace said screws 26 and wing nut 29 andthe devicewith its accessory is ready for use. The cutting member 36 mayremain in position while the accessories are used, or it may be removedif so desired.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I illustrate the means of attaching a disc cultivatoraccessory to the frame 15. This accessory consists of a frame memberhaving a horizontal body 37, having holes therethrough adapted to engagethe screws 26 and setscrew 27, and angularly disposed legs 38 betweenwhich extends an axle 39 adapted to carry a multiplicity of disc cutters40, and spacers 4l. The axle 39 extends through holes formed near theends of the legs 38 and is headed at each end as at 42 to insurepermanency.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I illustrate a roller accessory which is identical inconstruction with the disc cultivator accessory disclosed in Figs. 3 and4, except that in this accessory the rollers 43 are substituted for thediscs 40 and spacers 4l of Figs. 3 and 4.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a rake attachment is illustrated. The rake 44 comprisesa single stamping or forging having a multiplicity of angularly disposedteeth 45 formed intermediate its ends.- This attachment is secured tothe cross member 22 of the frame 15 in the same manner as the disc androller units referred to above.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I illustrate a, cultivating accessory which is formedand secured to the frame l5 in much the same manner as is the rake 44,shown in Figs. 7 and 8, except that in this unit spoons 46 are formed inplace of the teeth 45 of Figs. '7 and 8.

To use the cutting unit as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the operatorsimply places the open end of the frame 15 on the ground and moves itbackward and forward. As the tool is moved the blade 36 is submerged inthe ground to the approximate depth of the end 30 of the spring 28. Iffurther depth is desired, a shorter spring 33 may be used. It ispossible for the operator to use this weed cutter with a minimum ofphysical exertion. The disc cultivator roller and rake attachments maybe used with equal eiectiveness ior their respective purposes.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A tool of the character described comprising in combination a handle,a frame secured to said handle, said frame consisting of two divergingangularly disposed feet, a horizontal cutting element interposed betweensaid feet, a cross member extending between said feet adapted to supporta demountable cultivating element and a spring member interposed betweensaid feet and contacting said cross member intermediate its ends.

2. A tool of the character described comprising in combination a handle,a frame secured to said handle, said frame consisting of two divergingangularly disposed feet, a horizontal cutting element interposed betweensaid feet, a cross member extending between said feet adapted to supporta demountable cultivating element, a spring member interposed betweensaid feet and contacting said cross member intermediate its ends andmeans for exerting tension on said spring.

3. A tool of the character described comprising in combination a handle,a frame secured to said handle, said frame consisting of twov divergingangularly disposed feet, a horizontal cutting element interposed betweensaid feet, a cross member extending between said feet adapted to supporta demountable cultivating element, and a spring member interposedbetween said feet and contacting said cross member intermediate itsends, ksaid spring being adapted to spread said feet and exert force onsaid cutting element.

4. A tool of the character referred to comprising in combination ahandle, a frame secured to ,g

said handle, said frame consisting of two diverging angularly disposedfeet, means on the ends of said feet adapted to support a cuttingelement, a cross-member extending between said feet adapted to support ademountable cultivating element, and spring means interposed betweensaid feet adapted to hold said feet normally in open relation.

5. A combination weed cutting. and cultivating tool comprising a handle,a frame secured to said handle, said frame consisting of two divergingangularly disposed members, a cutting blade disposed between saidmembers, spring means for maintaining tension on said cutting blade, anda cross member between said first named members adapted to carry ademountable cultivating element such as a rake, disc or similar element.

6. A vcombination weed cutting and cultivating tool comprising a handle,a frame secured to said handle, said frame consisting of two divergingangularly disposed members, a cross-member between said angularlydisposed members adapted to support a demountable cultivating element,studs on the free ends of said angularly disposed members, a cuttingblade having an opening near each end thereof adapted to engage saidstuds, and adjustable spring means adapted to spread the ends ofsaiddiverging angularly disposed members to create tension on saidcutting blade to secure said blade against displacement.

'7. An article of the-character described comprising in combination, ahandle, a frame secured to said handle, said frame consisting of twodiverging angularly disposed members, a cross-member between saiddiverging angularly disposed members adapted to support a demountablecultivating element or elements, a cutting blade interposed between theends of said diverging angularly 'disposed members, a spring interposedbetween said diverging angularly disposed members and contacting saidcross-member, and a set-screw in threaded engagement with saidcross-member adapted to exert force onsaid spring and aid in securing ademountable cultivating element or elements to said crossmember.

EMIL O. BUEHLER.

